GB1318567A - Money handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

1318567 Coin-freed vending apparatus MM JENKINS 23 June 1970 [9 July 1969] 30428/70 Heading G4V A coin handling device, which is associated with a vending machine, has a number of coin shoots each arranged to receive coins of a particular denomination, for example 5c, 10c or 25c, sensor means adjacent to the shoots to sense the presence of coins and activate a totalizer, and stop means for holding coins in the shoots during totalization, and operable to release coins from the shoots corresponding to the price of an article vended. The sensor means may comprise switches or photo-diodes (Fig. 11, not shown). The embodiment described is comprised of adjoining segments each adapted to receive one coin denomination (Figs. 1, 2, 3, not shown) from a coin tester and separator. The figure illustrates the segment that receives 10c coins and the two other segments for 5c and 25c coins are similar in construction (Figs. 4, 6, not shown). Adjacent to the coin shoot 32 are switch means 33, 34 and 35 which sense the 10c coins, D, inserted. The first 10c coin is brought to rest adjacent switch 33 by the stop 46. A member 36 is rotated about pivot 37 and a projection 40 engages an arm 41 of the switch and moves it from the normally closed contact 43 into engagement with normally open contact 42. The pivotal movement of member 36 is limited by detent 44. If a second coin is inserted it is brought to rest by engagement with a projecting stem 39 of the switch 33 and in this position operates switch 34. Similarly a third coin actuates switch 35. The switches 33, 34, 35 and corresponding switches in the 5c and 25c segments are connected to AND gate or typical relay circuitry (Figs. 7, 8, not shown) which totalizes the value of the coins held in the shoots. When an item is purchased the stops 46, (24), (50) are temporarily withdrawn by solenoid actuated devices (Fig. 9, not shown) to allow coins of value equivalent to the vend price to pass to a cash box or change pay out tube. Further stops (not shown), positioned to retard the second coins in the shoots, may be moved into the shoots as the lower stops are withdrawn, allowing only one coin at a time to pass. The credit represented by the coins in the shoots may then be re-evaluated and a further item purchased, if required, or the remaining coins may be returned to the purchaser.